Physical Therapy

A physical therapy (PT) prescription from your orthopaedist will help you regain movement, restore function and alleviate pain. It is an integral part of orthopaedic rehabilitation. Your physical therapist will perform a comprehensive analysis of movement and dysfunction, identifying structural or soft tissue impairments and muscular imbalances or inefficiencies contributing to your presenting problem. PT can be prescribed before surgery, after surgery, or sometimes, in lieu of surgery. Check out our blog on why physical therapy matters.

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Your physical therapist will determine which treatments best meet your needs, but common therapies include: ultrasound, electrical stimulation, manual therapy (see below), cryotherapy (ice), heat therapy, mechanical traction, massage and dry needling. Your therapist may also prescribe specific exercise for you to do at home to support your healing process.

Dry needling is the use of acupuncture style needles to calm neurogenic inflammation and eliminate trigger points. This pain-free treatment option has been around for decades and has proven clinical success. The primary goal of dry needling is to desensitize supersensitive structures, to restore motion and function and to possibly induce a healing response to the tissue.

Manual therapy techniques are skilled hand movements and skilled passive movements of joints and soft tissue that are intended to improve tissue extensibility; increase range of motion; induce relaxation; mobilize or manipulate soft tissue and joints; modulate pain; and reduce soft tissue swelling, inflammation, or restriction. Techniques may include manual lymphatic drainage, manual traction, massage, mobilization/manipulation, and passive range of motion.

These techniques may be used to decrease edema, pain, spasm, or swelling; enhance health, wellness, and fitness; enhance or maintain physical performance; increase the ability to move; or prevent or remediate impairment in body functions and structures, activity limitations, or participation restrictions to improve physical function.

Our goal is to increase your function and alleviate your pain. While your pain levels will fluctuate as you heal, the therapy is designed to move you toward less pain. There may be some temporary discomfort with your PT procedures, but you should not experience pain. Communicating with your therapist about what you are feeling during treatment will help minimize discomfort.

Yes, Great Basin Orthopaedics has an on-site physical therapy clinic located in the same building as our medical offices.

Physical therapy can be prescribed before surgery, after surgery, and/or sometimes, instead of surgery. In all cases, a physical therapist’s goal is to help you regain movement, restore function and alleviate pain. Your physical therapist will work with you regularly to restore normal function and help you get back to optimal quality of life.

Physical therapy, also known as PT, focuses on helping improve your movement, mobility, and function. Physical therapists specialize in therapy programs for musculoskeletal injuries and disorders, sports injuries, and postoperative rehabilitation using a variety of exercises, stretches, or other physical activities.

Occupational therapy, also known as OT, focuses on helping you perform daily tasks more easily. This type of therapy focuses on improving your fine and gross motor skills so you can carry out specific day-to-day activities. They specialize in the treatment of the upper extremity (hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder) and work injuries. The services provided by occupational therapists include patient education, joint range of motion, adaptive techniques and splinting.